Si nanowire arrays as anodes in Li ion batteries

Si nanowires can incorporate large amounts of Li without fracturing and are thus prime candidates for anodes in Li ion batteries. Anodes made from Si nanowires offer a specific capacity per gram more then 10 times larger than the present graphite standard. It is shown how optimized Si nanowire arrays embedded in Cu can be produced in a relatively simple way employing macropore etching in Si followed by chemical etching and Cu galvanic deposition. First tests of these arrays in half-cells and batteries demonstrated a substantially increased capacity, small irreversible losses and cycle stability. In particular more than 60 charge/discharge cycles could be realized without loss of capacity. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim